Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-08-29

supplies 81 pure drinking water. hut their
health snd happiness are Threatened by
allowing the sale Of Intoxicating LIQUORS
for the a~SUaginS Of thirst An sorts Of
gambling devices are often allowed hy
which Unwary ones are aecoed of their
hard earnings, and youths who are need
eli a. honest workers in the land. acquire
di>taSte for the steady life Of the farm
cr, and learn u be dishonest in the acqui-
Sition of money. Where is the profit,
either IL man or country, i'm such gather
ing> ~ theSes What comfort i there Ia
man or woman going where their stur-
dy labor i cheapened before that which
only gives a momentary. unhealthy eN-
element. aud engcnder> strife and dis
cord AMI dishonesty a. horSt'-racing does
What does il add Ia the enjoyment Of a
father or mother who goes l., thc fair.
Ell such lessons during the day a. viii
cause him To drift away from the farm
into dissipation and vice. Ii i appalling
10 consider how many drunkar,l> are
made by the beer stands that are upon
fair grounds, or surrounding them.
Where is the hope Of healthy, hearty
rural population 10 correct the vicious
ness and disease of the cities. when the
youth of the rural districts are being thus
dehauched: These evils attendant upon
fairs destroy all the good they might 9TH
erwi>e accomplish. They are positive
injury 10 community instead of being
a blessing, and are not worthy Of the
patronage of the best elements of society.
Ii i a disgrace 10 the management of a
fair, when an extra police force must be
detailed 10 control the drunken and diSor-
DERBY elements of the day. All the ar
engagements should he such that a police
man would be an unnecessary appendage.
The management of fairs have admitted
these evils for the sake of the revenue.
under mistaken idea that there would
be financial loss in the legitimate way of
carrying il on.
There are fairs where neither horse
racing nor any other species of gambling
i carried on; where no intoNicant i al
low cd on or near the grounds; where the
most generous premiums are given for
the products OF nature. ami the best ma
chinery for the improving and raising of
these products: where the youth Of the
country are melted 10 literary study by
prizes for the best literary efforts in essay
and Grafton: and these fairs have always
proved good financial successes, and a a
means of educating the people up TO a
higher standard of living. intellectually
and morally. their value can hardly be e.
timated.
There is a general complaint of a dearth
of young men who choose to be farmers.
How far may not the present style Of
state and county fairs be responsible for
this: Instead of magnifying the calling.
and presenting all the beauties and advan-
tages of an agricultural life by setting
value upon its products above all other
things at the fair, an unhealthy spirit of
excitement and dissipation is encouraged
that makes the simple life of the country
seem tame and commonplace. The youth
OF the land are not being educated up into
the idea that farm life may be the most
ENJOYABLE. independent. cultured and dig
ni1ed of all lives. by such sights and in
1iuences a. are often presented to them IN
connection with il al our fairs The fair
at its best i an absolute necessity To the
farmer; but a il i often carried on. i
only means OF cheapening his labors
belittIing the power and dignity of agri-
cultural pursuits and injuring the health,
comfort, and happiness OF those engaged
in it. In the name Of those whose lives
have been a blessing 10 humanity through
their agricultural labOrs. and for the sake
of those who should stand ready 10 take
their places with clear heads and strong
arms TO do their work, we appeal to the
farmers of the land, "a the only power
capable Of controlling these matters, to
see TO it that these demOralizing influence
e are driven away from our fairs, and
that only pure and elevating influences
surround those who come together seek
ing mutual pleasure and profit at these
great annual meetings.
We have brought this matter before
the people of Orleans county for an OBJ
ject II Is no more or less than that they
may intelligently see that it is dangerous
business TO stand in the light of progress
sion for truth and the right. A the time
approaches for our own county fair, let
all be sure that they give all possible in
fuence 10 make it a. il should be i'm al
it, relations
JULIA NJ. JOHNSON.
Co. Supt. Press Dept.
Derby, Aug. "a. ls54.
State NaHS Horne